Abstract
South Sinai is a remote governorate in Egypt. Publications points to many nutritional deficiencies among children including vitamins and trace elements. Macronutrient assessment wasn't studied at this area. purpose of this work was to assess the dietary macro nutrients intake within school age children living at South Sinai. Cross sectional study for South Sinai school children was designed. A total of 862 children aging 4 to 18 y were randomly selected among students at public schools from 6 visited cities in South Sinia Governorate. Nutritional consumption data was collected using standard 24 hours dietary recalls (24-HDRs) by nutritionists interviewers. Local recipes samples were collected and analyzed for their contents of moisture, protein, fat, ash, crude fiber and carbohydrate using standard methods. Each iiiacronutrient was then calculated in grams using Nutrisurvey software program. The % fulfillment of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) was then calculated. Subjects were classified into 4 age groups in each studied area for proper comparison. illustrated that the mean daily intake of energy (Kcal/d), carbohydrate (g/day), fats (g/day) and fibers (g/day) in different study sites were below RDA. Significant difference (p<0.05) between different age groups and different study sites are very clear. Protein intakes were within RDA. Sidre city showed the worst results. Adolescents had marked macronutrient deficiencies. All macronutrients intakes for children and adolescents living at S.Sinai under study were lower than their RDAs except of protein. Health education programs and organized supplementation is mandatory. These programs have to consider sites and age groups differences.